Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

I. CLARK.

THILLGOUPLIING. No. 397,633. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

ATTORNEYS.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC CLARK, OF MORRIS PLAINS, NEW JERSEY.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,633, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed J mm 19, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC CLARK, of Morris Plains, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Couplin gs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a thill-coupli n g which is simpler, stronger, more convenient .in use, and easier to couple and uncouple than those heretofore in general use.

The invention comprises certain novel features of construction and arrangement, which, in order that they may be fully understood, 1 will first describe in detail, and then point out particularly in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a thill-coupling embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section al elevation of the same 011 the line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a part hereinafter referred to.

The coupling thus illustrated is provided with anordinary clip, A, yoke B, and nuts C, for application to the axle D of a vehicle, as shown.

011 the front enlarged leg of the clip A are formed two parallel forward-projecting rectangular lugs, E, which are formed in their ment, and in one of said disks V are formed horizontal upper edges with corresponding mortises, F, in the upper parts of their vertical front edges with corresponding half-r0 und bearin gs G, and in the lower parts of said front edges with corresponding pivot-holes, H. In the pivot-holes H are mounted to turn the respective end pivots, I, of a vertically-swinging block, J ,whieh is formed with beveled end shoulders, K, to abut against the lower edges of the lugs E and limit the downward swing of the block J, and with upward-projecting parallel jaws, L, the inner edges of which are constructed to coincide with the front edges of the lugs E when the block J is swung up ward, and are formed with halfbearings M to coincide with the half-bearings G.

The jaws L are constructed to embrace therebetween loosely the shank N of a T shaped erial No. 277,552- (No model.)

thill-iron, O, the cross-head P of which is adapted to the sectional bearings G M, the construction and arrangement being such that when the jaws are in their upper position, as shown in Fig. 1, the thill-iron 0 will be properly coupled to the axle, and when in their lower position determined by the stop-shout ders K and shown in Fig. 2the thill-iron will still be connected to the axle, but maybe eas ily uncoupled on simply lifting the T-head of the thill-iron from the half-bearings M.

The upper ends of the jaws L are formed, respectively, with rigid arms Q, projecting inward at right angles thereto, and adapted, when the jaws L are lowered, as in Fig. 2, to serve as guards against the withdrawal of the thill exceptby lifting, and, when raised, to bear closely upon the upper edges of the lugs E,with the mortises F of which theyhave downwardprojecting locking-ten ons R to engage.

The upper edges of the arms Q. are formed with slots S to receive the yoke T of aspring U-clip, T, which is sprung around so as to embrace the arms Q and lugs E, and has inwardprojecting toes U on the lower ends of its legs to catch the lower edges of the lugs E, and thus lock the arms Q firmly but detachably thereto, completing the coupling.

On the opposite ends of the cross-head P of the thill-iron are fixed solid disks V, to bear againstthe outer sides of the jaws L and lugs E and resist their relative lateral displacenotches V for engagement by a dog, \V', which is pivoted to the side of the corresponding lug, E, so that the thill or shafts can be held up when desired.

A bent spring, Z, is preferably arranged between the front leg of the axle-clip and the thill cross-head P when. raised to prevent rattling.

Having thus described my invention, wh at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.' In a thillcouplin g, thecombination, with an axle-clip, A, having forward-projecting parallel lugs E, formed with front half=bearings, G, and pivot-holes H, of a block, J, pivoted to the holes H and formed with rigid upward projecting jaws L, having inner half-bearin gs,

M, and with rigid rearward-projecting bearing-arms Q, a T thill-iron, O, pivoted and embraced between the jaws L, and a lockingconnection for the arms Q and lugs E, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a thill-ooupling, the combination, with an axle-clip formed with coupling-lugs E, of a pivoted block, J, having beveled stop-shoulders K, and jaws L and arms Q, forming thill iron hooks, substantially as shown and described.

In a thillreoupling, the combination, with an axle-clip formed with coupling-lugs E, having top inortises, F, and front half-bearings, G, of pivotal jaws L, having half-bearings M, and formed with rearward-projeating arms Q, having bottom tenons, R, a locking-connection for the arms Q and lugs E, and a thilliron, 0, substantially as described.

4. In a thi1l+coupling, the combination, with clip-lugs E and movable jaws L, having corresponding "sectional bearings, G 181,013 a T thill- 1 iron, N, havinga'eross-head, P, adapted to the l bearin gs G M, and formed on its opposite ends with lateral braoingdisks V, substantially as described.

5. In a thill-couplin g, the combination, with parallel clip-lugs E, having corresponding bearings, of a T thill-iron pivoted to and between said bearings, and having a notched disk, V, on an end outside the bearing, and a dog, \V, pivoted to the outside of the corresponding lug, E, substantially as described.

6. In a thill-coupling, the combination, with an axle-clip, A, having forward-projecting parallel lugs E, formed with front half-bearings, G, and pivoted holes H, of a block, .I, pivoted to the holes H, and formed with rigid upwardprojecting jaws L, having inner half-bearings, M, and with rigid rearWard-projecting bearing-arins Q, and a locking-connection for the 'arms Q and lugs E, substantially as shown and described.

ISAAC CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

CHAsF. AXTELL, J. WALTER SEARING. 

